With almost 30 NWSL players in the W-League, plenty of them saw lots of action in the opening weekend of W-League play.

In the Westfield W-League’s ninth season opener this past weekend, eight out of the nine teams saw action. Canberra United saw a week without matches, but there was plenty of action to go around between the other eight - many of them featuring the NWSL players on loan.

Kennedy and Simon unable to get the result

Brisbane Roar FC hosted Sydney FC in the W-League’s season opener. Brisbane is the only W-League team not to have an NWSL player on loan, but Sydney featured Boston Breakers forward Kyah Simon and Western New York Flash defender Alanna Kennedy - both are Australian internationals for their respective NWSL clubs. Both Kennedy and Simon started and played the full match for Sydney. In a match that featured plenty of yellow cards and even at one point had former Sky Blue FC player Caitlin Foord sent off for Sydney after accumulating her second yellow, Sydney FC was unable away with any points.

Sydney FC will host cross town rivals Western Sydney Wanderers next Saturday.

It was a high scoring match, with the first goal being scored in the 13th minute for Adelaide, and it just kept going from there. Breakers forward Dowie scored in the 16th minute for the Victory to keep the game level. Minutes later, Colaprico played a nice through ball to Huerta, who found forward Adriana Jones in the 19th minute to put Adelaide United up 2-1 by half.

There wouldn’t be another goal for either side until the 63rd minute, when goalkeeper Bianca Henninger would send a ball from outside of her box to find Dowie, who played it quickly out wide to Kariah White for a great cross off and a header and brace for Natasha Dowie. The Victory wouldn’t be able to come away with the result though, as Monica netted one in the 75th minute to end the match in a draw.

Melbourne Victory will host the Newcastle Jets next Saturday while Adelaide United will have an bi-week.

A goal in the eighth minute of play would send the tone for this one. City’s forward Marianna Tabain would find the back on the net, with an assist from NWSL player on loan Lauren Barnes. Williams was rewarded with a shutout, and Melbourne City continue to keep winning in the 2016-2017 season.

Next Friday, Melbourne City will travel to take on Canberra United. The Newcastle Jets will be back in Melbourne on Saturday, but this time they will take on Melbourne Victory.

City's Jess Fishlock and Lydia Williams face a close call as the ball rolls just past the post. | Source: @MelbCityWFC

Action started early for the last match of the weekend, with a goal coming in the first minute, assisted by none other than Perth forward Sam Kerr. Perth would score another before the Wanderers had an answer in the 38th minute. The opening of the second half looked promising for Western Sydney, scoring in the 50th minute. However, Sam Kerr wouldn’t let it stand, scoring herself a brace in the 63rd and 83rd to give the Glory all three points.

Top of the table Perth Glory hosts Brisbane Roar next Saturday, while Western Sydney Wanderers go home to take on crosstown rivals Sydney FC.

The full W-League schedule along with results and match stats can be found on their website.